Coutura Men's Solar Perpetual Calendar Alarm Chronograph Watch

Other reviewers have already captured this watch's excellent value, feature set, looks and quality. Below are my observations; I'll summarize that this is a dress watch that makes slight trade-offs for looks over functionality (rather than being a sports or everyday watch), and is really well designed and manufactured for that purpose. NOTE: You must properly set the watch the first time around, otherwise calendar and alarm may not work right. It's all in the manual! Shouldn't have to touch it again for a long time. Battery: It's solar-powered, so you shouldn't have to replace the battery for a long time. Size and fit: The case size of 44 mm is on the smaller side for men's chronographs these days, and should work for more wrists. The lugs curve downwards from the watch back (rather than going straight out, or being offset by a domed back), helping the watch wrap nicely on my thinner wrist. There's plenty of removable links - in fact, they *all* can be removed (no one's going to, but just so you know). Functions: I compared this to a Citizen PCAT, which was also in the running. Seiko's functions are easier to use - lower side button for chrono, upper side button for checking date-month-year-battery reserve. Pull crown to position 1 for setting alarm, position 2 for setting time and calendar. Missing are world time, multiple time zones, and radio time sync (compared to more expensive Couturas and the Citizen PCATs), but those weren't worth the premium for me. Buttons: Two side buttons, that shouldn't get pushed accidentally, thanks to the raised "shoulder" of the crown, as well as their own resistance and clickiness (might take some time getting used to). The alarm is set using the side buttons rather than by turning the crown. In some contexts, holding the button pressed will move the hands faster (like when setting the alarm or the time/calendar). Dials and hands: Top dial is for day, date-hand function indicator and power level. The "day arc" dial is less common in watches, and I like how it's done here. Bottom dial is alarm time/chrono hour+minute. Left dial is always seconds. The normal second hand is actually a calendar hand on this watch, cycling between displaying date, month and year when pressing the top side button. It's much more readable than a small date dial, of course less so than a date window - but the date hand is unique and works for the look of the watch vs a date window. The big dials has 1/5th second markings for the chrono functions, but these are missing near the big 5-minute markers - for looks I guess, but I'd have preferred if they had kept the fine markings everywhere. Hands are nicely styled, with the hour and minute hands having plenty of LumiBrite. The calendar hand is really thin; a bit more width would have been nice. Other markings are white against black, no LumiBrite here - will be difficult to read in "mood lighting". Materials and build: can't complain, solid parts are solid, moving parts are well-fitted, glass is sapphire crystal and flat, water resistance of 100 m is adequate (not planning on scuba diving with this dress watch). The polished silver band will slowly scratch, so enjoy it while it lasts. After that, declare it "brushed metal"? The band styling is unique to the Coutura line, as far as I can tell, and quite attractive. You won't find a replacement band from Seiko, so take care of the original (or maybe buy a busted Coutura for the band if you must). Comparable watches: Seiko SSC787 is this watch but in silver with blue tone. Citizen PCATs offer similar dial layout, more features (time zones, tachymeter, radio sync, and 200 m water resistance, but lack month-year) at a higher price. Finally, be careful where you buy it from - either get it from Amazon.com directly, or an authorized Seiko seller. My first attempt landed me a "new" watch from an inventory liquidator, and many of the negative reviews here appear to have had a similar experience.

Beautiful and top quality look and performance! I receive a lot of compliments

Make no mistake this is a stunning kinetic art piece that also doubles as a dead accurate chronograph. My jaw dropped when I opened the box. Been wearing it for 6 years and still every now and then the gold flash catches someone’s eye. “That’s a mighty fine watch you have there ! “. Never looses a second. Plus the toddlers love it when they push a button and the hands whirl into a new position to indicate the month or day.

Beautiful watch nice quality and it arrived in a timely fashion

This is my most beautiful watch. Incredible craftsmanship! Absolutely GORGEOUS! Instructions are good. Just read them. Big gripe that seems like a little thing, but is a BIG thing. This "little thing" cost Seiko a star from me. How do I make this watch fit my skinny wrist without extra expense? Did I miss an adjustment voucher for a watch that cost a reasonable amount of money? Here is a respectful suggestion to Seiko, my favorite watch brand. Please include tools to take links out of the band!!! Attached is an example of what could be done. With another recent purchase, I bought an inexpensive stainless watchband for my Timex Expedition (my outdoor watch) because the Expedition's leather band gave me a rash when it got wet. Guess what? The no-name band maker gave me the tools it took to take links out of that band (see pic of what should be included with any Seiko watch)! Venerable, but maybe calcified Seiko did NOT do that for me on this watch. Where do I take it to have it adjusted? If I buy this off Amazon, no one wants to adjust the band for me for free... I'm not afraid to adjust my own band given a proper tool that would cost almost nothing to include in the beautiful box. Maybe even put the tool in that cool pillow thing that holds the watch in the box. For this kind of money a $5 manufacturing adjustment = $250 mental adjustment for me. It seems like a little thing. I believe it is a BIG thing. If you want to sell your watches online, provide the support needed to make them fit without extra expense!

First, I have worn Seiko watches since 1970. While not the bling or reputation of Tag Heuer or Beitling, Seiko is an outstanding value. I’ve never had a poor watch among the some half dozen I have owned. Most of the preceding, thorough reviews have captured the essence of this time piece: great value, stylish, dependable, accurate. With care and attention to detail (read the instructions) it is reasonably easy to set up. The video tutor on the SeikoUSA website is also helpful. Should you need to, the band is easily adjustable by removing one or more of the links (using a pin or the end of a paper clip, small pliers). I removed three links with no problem. Having had a solar powered Seiko dress watch, I find them dependable and accurate. Some general advice when watch shopping on Amazon: Pay attention to the specific seller. Sometimes it is a watch retailer; sometimes it is Amazon specifically. The difference? The warranty varies by seller. Some sellers are Seiko authorized dealers and/or offer the Seiko manufacturer’s (3-year warranty), others offer some variation of a shop or third-party warranty. If it makes a difference, read the find print or ask the seller directly. I look forward to many years of good service from this watch.

Received this watch a couple days ago and I love the looks. It does have several functions on it that will probably never get used, such as the alarm and the stop watch. The stop watch is fairly easy to use. But the alarm is complicated and, from what I hear from others, you can barely hear it. So, not worth the trouble. It is heavier than I imagined but that's OK. The worst thing was how complicated it was to set up, even with the instructions. After struggling for a couple days to win that battle I finally got it set properly and should never have to set it again. Again, I love the look. It is a bit busy with all that it offers but as long as I have my glasses on, I can read it fine. I also like that, for all practical purposes, it is virtually scratch proof and waterproof. Now I just enjoy it.

March 2023 Conceptually this is a wonderful watch: a perpetual calendar that never needs adjustment, a perpetual movement that never needs winding or adjustment, plus stop watch and alarm features. It is an electrical, electronical, and mechanical miracle of miniaturization - a scientific marvel. Unfortunately the implementation is flawed. The dates displayed on the outer rim of the watch are too small to read easily. Depending on the lighting, glare and reflection from the crystal and hour markings may make it almost impossible to read. (The photographs of the watch are glare free and the numbers appear legible, but in practice they are not.) The same applies to the days of the week. The model under discussion has a dark face with light printing. The model with a white face and black printing may be better. The minute and hour hands often obscure the sub-dials, further making them difficult to read. Overall, the watch looks pretty and is good for telling the time. It is a very heavy time piece. The alarm is so quiet that it cannot be heard, even in a silent room, unless the watch is held to the ear. In practical terms the watch may as well not have an alarm. Also, even if one wants the alarm to be set to the same time every day it needs to be reset from scratch. This would be very annoying if one could actually use the alarm. The watch comes without instructions, which need to be downloaded. There are no instructions for adjusting the length of the bracelet. To register the watch and to find the right manual they make references to model number, serial number, case number, and caliber code. None is easy to find, read, or tell apart from the others. Seiko's registration process is outrageous. The system would not allow registration without giving information such as age, income, education, and what other watches one owned. This information is irrelevant to watch registration and a gross violation of privacy. There are two aspects to privacy. The one being whether the company will keep your data secure and private. The other is what part of your information the company itself needs to know. Asking for things such as age and income are impertinent and rude, and a violation of privacy. Refusing to register the watch without this information is outrageous. Upon due consideration I have reluctantly decided to return the watch. Not being able to hear the alarm was the final deal breaker, especially as I had bought it for the alarm.